Beware of the Stare

By Kerry Swope

Dalton Cassidy is a cowboy who arrives in New York City from Wyoming, with the hopes of starting his music career and a saddlery business. Nothing prepares him for the series of baffling and horrific events that would shape his life in the months to come. His new emotionally unstable girlfriend, Leslie, and the sinister ventriloquist dummies he acquires, change his concept of normalcy. He begins to question his own sanity as things spiral out of control. What starts as an exciting new adventure for Dalton, suddenly turns into an ongoing nightmare that turns deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kerry Swope
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223199076

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Copyright © 2023 by Kerry Swope

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved; no parts of this book may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Beware of the Stare by Kerry Swope, is a mystery horror story.

Dalton Cassidy is a cowboy who arrives in New York City from Wyoming with the hopes of starting his music career and a saddlery business. Nothing prepares him for the series of baffling and horrific events that would shape his life in the months to come. His new emotionally unstable girlfriend, Leslie, and the sinister ventriloquist dummies he acquires, change his concept of normalcy. He begins to question his own sanity as things spiral out of control. What starts as an exciting new adventure for Dalton, suddenly turns into an ongoing nightmare that turns deadly.

 New York City is known as the city that never sleeps. It can also chew you up, and spit you out. It’s not for the faint of heart, but still people want to be a part of it.

Dalton Cassidy is a real life cowboy from Wyoming who is restless by nature, and decided to give the Big Apple a go. His background as a rodeo rider didn’t prepare him for what lay ahead for him. He has a natural talent as a skilled horseman and plays a mean guitar. He is a rugged, handsome man who has no fear of anything, which includes the two- and four-legged kind.

Upon arriving in the city, he found himself an apartment within the city limits. He felt like a fish out of water in his new and unfamiliar surroundings. His ranch life was now in the rear view mirror, and that meant he would be riding off into a new sunset. His goal was to buy a saddlery shop in the city, or the outskirts, and make a living playing guitar as a soloist, or perhaps in a band. He started venturing out in the city, and attending every open mic night he could find. After many months he was eventually discovered by a local agent for his country singing and slick guitar playing.  His talent had been undeniable back home in Wyoming, with potential star talent written all over him.

 During those early months in the city, he met a beautiful woman named Leslie, who took a real hankering to the hunky Dalton. She worked as a barmaid at a local bar, and apparently had the reputation of being manipulative, with her share of blonde moments.. She went to his open mic nights where he also met an established guitar player named Luther.  He and Luther began playing gigs together on a weekly basis, which already led to a jealous streak in Leslie, which was a precursor of heinous activities to follow.

One night the two guys finished up playing a gig at a local watering hole when Dalton asked Luther if he wanted to go to a comedy club nearby to unwind and have a few laughs. Luther didn't really feel like it, but he went along anyway. The night was hilarious, and then a ventriloquist act appeared. Luther thought it was ridiculous, but Dalton was mesmerized by it, and never witnessed anything like this on the western front. Of